Liberation Psychology: Uncovering Historical Traumas and Injustices
Explore the profound impact of historical traumas and injustices on psychological well-being, as discussed by Dr. Broderick Sawyer. Delve into narratives of liberation, accountability, and the enduring effects of societal conditioning on marginalized communities. Reflect on the complexities of integration, rationalizations of oppression, and the struggle for ownership and autonomy.
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LIBERATION PSYCHOLOGY Broderick Sawyer, PhD Brodericksawyer.com
BIO Independent Louisville KY Clinical PhD from U. of Louisville Trigger warning- I am here to bend your mind, eat food fully before resisting Brodericksawyer.com
COLLECTIVE NARRATIVE Liberation starts with truth telling It ends with accountability Brodericksawyer.com
TIMELINE Brodericksawyer.com
OWNERSHIP Sawyer Mine Belonging to Do what I want, be where I want. Brodericksawyer.com
TRAUMAS ENDURED: 2.5 CENTURIES Literally kidnapped from home, forced to work for free, families separated on a business whim. Beaten, starved, lynched, killed, forced into labor from birth through death- 246 years. Wives, daughters, etc. taken from living quarters, raped, and returned. Brodericksawyer.com
RATIONALIZATION: ITS OKAY BECAUSE.. Sub-human Criminals Lazy Stupid Rapists Birth of a nation, 1915. America s first feature-length motion picture. Originally called The Clansmen Popularized the KKK, made them look like heroes. Brodericksawyer.com
INTEGRATION Integration an awkward proposition for both, or the perfect solution? Live with animals , live with oppressors If separate was equal, would integration have come up? Brodericksawyer.com
FISH IN WATER Superior/inferior roles enacted Conditioning from all of this so strong, we don t know the extent unless we actively review historical & current contexts. News, TV shows, magazines, etc., all latent with stereotypes White heroes, White damsels in distress Choosing roles for BP, thugs, prostitutes, etc. : Hmm you play this role. It just feelsright. People watch and see stereotypes as normal ways to think Brodericksawyer.com
FISH IN WATER American systems economically decimate Black communities = stress, trauma, violence. Punish Black communities for the stress, trauma, and violence that White systems have caused. Mass incarceration: Government contracts with private prison companies, the say, you must have X number of people in prisons according to the contract (aka- arrest, charge, and imprison X amount of people) Justice is based on business quotas Problem trying to blend truth when financial interests are involved. Brodericksawyer.com
COLLECTIVE TRAUMA BIPOC- racial trauma isn t a disorder, its a daily reality. Can require therapy if symptoms severe enough. Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, PTSD, etc. Systems are problematic, not people Keep your emotional self small- Slavery example Whites- have social power to avoid the truth of privilege Avoidance, defensiveness, anger, shame/guilt Systems responsible for your conditioning, not you. PTSD veteran comparison Taught/reinforced to believe emotional needs are bigger, more important than others Systems prioritize your feelings, because systems are run by other Whites Heart is shut down to the suffering of BIPOC- Nervous system theory Different responses, but both racial trauma, both require healing. Brodericksawyer.com
THE FIELD This is empirically based Who is more likely to get the degrees? Who asks the research questions? Are indigenous narratives of healing included? 1 on 1 treatment, rather than healing in community Use of IQ tests Defining what is normal based on pathological cultural norms. How do we remove our bias as to what is normal versus not? Brodericksawyer.com
LIBERATION PSYCHOLOGY Open space, evenly suspended attention. Fostering inner growth by providing space to fully experience Intervention used to supplement, not drive treatment. Hammer meet nail, not just hammering everything. Cultural norms will cause you to see anger as pathological , or African passion as bipolar spectrum affect . Psychosis often misdiagnosed in African Americans because of hyperspirituality There is no prescription or framework of healing to keep in mind, this being is complete and we are helping them find the courage to be themselves, as they are. What is adaptive to them, is not adaptive to dominant society Brodericksawyer.com
ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS Humans are regenerative Empowerment Confidence in own reactions/emotions Can t get validation from systems that invalidate you Ancestral memory What African Americans are missing from Africa is their memory, and what they are missing from America is the fact that they are not American Community healing Heal the environment to heal the individual Maslow s hierarchy, Black Panther Party Love and connection Brodericksawyer.com
ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS Decolonizing value systems Limit colonizing species/ideas Internalized oppressive values You carry oppressive values around with you The fish doesn t know what water is Working with activists versus Black MH professionals Credentials Liberated thought processes Afro-futurism Brodericksawyer.com
THERAPEUTIC INTEGRATION Relationship Pace and space The power of authentic narrative Black male and anger suppression/expression Systemic rupture of being White- trained Strong countertransference to control Brodericksawyer.com
DBT AND RACIAL TRAUMA Radical Acceptance of inner experiences Acceptance does not mean approval: Math metaphor Dialectic Action and acceptance, being and doing at the same time Social justice Brodericksawyer.com
EMOTION-FOCUSED WORK Normalize emotional experience Mindfulness and sublimation: Focusing emotional energy Anger Joy Grief Fear Blockages and learning What emotions allowed in front of my therapist vs not? What emotions safe to experience versus not? Healthy avoidance- White people taught most emotions okay. For BIPOC folks, not as okay to experience ANYTHING. Brodericksawyer.com
ANXIOUS/TRAUMATIC SX No thought challenging Right/wrong comes from supremacist ideals Longitudinal conceptualization Learning theory, conceptualization of narrative to understand personal perception, not what you think Strength-based skill building You are not expert in their culture Feeling based; what feels good, not what intervention is supported, not what should work for them even if they say it. Dealing with what is Daily coping regimen Daily collection of activities; great for college students Mindfulness and values Energy audit Brodericksawyer.com
DEPRESSION Value-based behavioral activation Normalizing sadness: Washcloth metaphor The art of rest Reparations Political/community action as healing Another form of BA Feel like they are actually solving the problem Brodericksawyer.com
COMPASSION-FOCUSED Self-compassion Community compassion Compassion exercises Brodericksawyer.com
RESOURCES Toward Psychologies of Liberation Mary Watkins and Helene Shulman Writings for a liberation psychology- Martin Baro
